Hey, GOP: Diversify Your Platform!

Blogging at the Huffington Post, the Rev. Al Sharpton offers trenchant advice to the GOP, which is looking to reach out to minorities: He urges members to diversify their platform, meaning getting on the right side of civil rights, progress and history.

If the GOP wants to change its image, the Rev. Al Sharpton writes at the Huffington Post that members need to start by diversifying their platform, which means getting on the right side of civil right, progress and history.

It's difficult for some to process the fact that my parents were Republicans. But they were, as was our Pastor; that is, until the mid-'60s. As it became abundantly clear that Republicans were going to stand on the wrong side of civil rights, on the wrong side of progress and on the wrong side of history, it became obvious to my parents and our Pastor that they would know longer stand with them. And so it went for many African Americans, and progressive Whites. The Republican Party quickly transformed and the Party of old was very different from the Party of present.

Today, that concept can be multiplied tenfold. There's a reason why Blacks, Latinos, Asians, gays, immigrants and other groups overwhelmingly voted with the Democrats during the last election -- mainly that we vote with those who fight for greater equality. So if Reince Priebus, National Republican Party Chairman, and the rest of his comrades think that we can 'bought' for any amount of money, it's time we set the record straight.

As of late, Priebus has been touting the GOP's new 'Growth and Opportunity Project Plan,' which assesses their failures in the 2012 election and ways in which they can reach us minorities. Telling CBS's Bob Schieffer that the Party would be announcing a $10 million initiative this year, Priebus said the money would be used to send hundreds of paid individuals to venture into communities of color across the country and talk about the Republican Party and its brand. I'm glad that Priebus and Republicans recognize and acknowledge that they have a severe problem attracting minorities to their Party. But unfortunately, they fail to realize that all the money in the world can't solve their problems unless they learn to change their policies.

The Rootaims to foster and advance conversations about issues relevant to the black Diaspora by presenting a variety of opinions from all perspectives, whether or not those opinions are shared by our editorial staff.